University of Massachusetts guard Freddie Riley returning to lineup

Republican file photoUMass freshman Freddie Riley, shown in action last season for Hargrave Military Academy, is expected to return against Fordham after undergoing knee surgery.

AMHERST – With Atlantic 10 Conference play about to begin, Freddie Riley is happy to be back on the basketball court.

“This is the most games I’ve missed in one season, but my legs feel stronger now,” said Riley, who expects to play Wednesday night for the University of Massachusetts against Fordham at the Mullins Center.

The 6-foot-5 freshman guard has missed four games since undergoing minor surgery on his right knee in early December.

At the time, UMass coach Derek Kellogg said Riley might have been able to play through the pain.

But with a relatively small number of games on the December schedule, it made more sense to do the surgery and correct the problem, Kellogg said.

The injury is not believed to have occurred from any specific play or moment. Riley does not expect the layoff will impair his shooting, which has been his trademark in high school and college.

“I’ve been able to practice for the last three days, and my form is still the same,” he said.

Kellogg stopped short of saying Riley would play in Wednesday’s league opener, but agreed it looked very likely.

“We’ll see how he feels in practice and our shootaround, but there’s a good chance he’ll play,” Kellogg said.

Another UMass freshman, Javorn Farrell, is still nursing a groin injury that has limited his practice time.

Farrell is also 6-5. While not a shooter of Riley’s caliber, he plays a similar wing position and is a better defender.

Kellogg thinks Riley and Farrell can help ease each other’s minutes, essentially fitting two players into one rotation spot while both get healthy.

Riley is averaging only 16 minutes a game, but is third in UMass scoring with 9.6 points per contest.

He has taken 84 shots in 146 minutes, shooting 34.5 percent from the floor and 34.9 percent (22 for 63) from 3-point range.

Riley traveled with the Minutemen to Davidson last week, but did not dress for the game.

A highly recruited prospect from Ocala, Fla., Riley played at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia last year.

He did not arrive at UMass with a reputation for defense, but has been working at that aspect, with some improvement.

Kellogg said Riley’s playing time in the next week or so won’t be determined by offense, but by stamina and defense.

UMass point guard Ricky Harris also declared himself ready for Atlantic 10 play, though effects of an ankle injury still linger.

Harris missed one game, then went into a shooting slump after the Dec. 10 injury at practice.

He will play Wednesday, and probably start. The senior came off the bench in last week’s 63-61 loss at Davidson, playing 25 minutes and scoring 21 points on 8-for-23 shooting.

“I’m close, about 85 percent,” Harris said.

“I know I’ve been a little hesitant, not getting the lift I need on my jump shot.

“I just thought it might happen again, so I was a little scared of that. I was nervous about making certain moves, but I’m getting my confidence back now.”